Verse Text
śraddhā-mātrasya tad-bhaktāv adhikāritva-hetutā |
aṅgatvam asya viśvāsa-viśeṣasya tu keśave ||191||
Translation
The cause of qualification for bhakti is śraddhā alone. The particular element viśvāsa to Keśava may be considered an aṅga of that.
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Though the terms śraddhā and viśvāsa are synonyms, since there is an abundant use of the words in a different context — śraddhā referring to the first stage and viśvāsa to a later stage — they are used with separate meanings here. The word mātra, indicating exclusiveness, is used with śraddhā to acknowledge it as the best and necessary means for producing results in bhakti as a whole. The word viśeṣa, meaning “particular” or “excellent” is used with viśvāsa, to acknowledge viśvāsa as the practice for bringing about a particular result of śraddhā and also being the topmost result of śraddhā. Because śraddhā and viśvāsa have been mentioned in this verse, the two previous quotations (verses 189-190) illustrate śraddhā and viśvāsa in that order.
Purport (Nectar of Devotion)
Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī says that a neophyte devotee who has simply developed a slight love of Godhead is certainly a prospective candidate for devotional service. When he becomes firmly fixed in such devotional service, that assured status becomes a confidential part of his devotional service.